LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Vic Fangio is returning to the Chicago Bears as defensive coordinator after being passed up for their head coaching job.

Fangio re-signed Friday and will continue to lead a defense he helped transform the past three seasons. He was the first candidate to interview for the Bears' coaching job after John Fox was fired, but general manager Ryan Pace ultimately decided to go with former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.

Fangio was free to go elsewhere after his contract expired. Before he arrived in Chicago, the Bears' defense ranked among the worst in franchise history. They were more than respectable in 2017 under Fangio despite losing several players to injuries, including linebacker Leonard Floyd.

Chicago's defense ranked 10th overall, seventh against the pass, ninth in scoring and 11th against the run.

The team announced Friday that it has hired former Oregon coach Mark Helfrich as offensive coordinator and Chris Tabor as special teams coordinator. The Bears also brought in Charles London to coach running backs and Mike Furrey as wide receivers coach.

Helfrich led Oregon to a 37-16 record in four seasons. That included a run to the first College Football Playoff championship game during the 2014 season with Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota at quarterback. He was fired after a 4-8 finish in 2016.

Before becoming the Ducks' coach, Helfrich was their quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator from 2009-12 under Chip Kelly. With their fast-paced and prolific spread-option offense, the Ducks went 46-7 during that span.

Helfrich didn't call plays as Oregon's offensive coordinator and he won't in Chicago. Nagy plans to do that.

The Bears are looking to get the most out of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and emerge from one of the worst runs in franchise history.

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They fired Fox after three seasons with a 14-34 record that gave him the second-worst winning percentage for a Chicago coach. Nagy spent the past decade working under Andy Reid in Philadelphia and Kansas City and served as the Chiefs' offensive coordinator this past season.

He is trying to help turn around a team that missed the playoffs for the seventh straight season and hasn't finished above .500 since Lovie Smith was fired after going 10-6 in 2012. The Bears were 5-11 in 2017.

The development of Trubisky, the No. 2 overall draft pick last spring, could go a long way toward lifting an offense that ranked 30th overall and last in passing. But the Bears will need to acquire some playmaking receivers.

Tabor spent the past seven seasons as Cleveland's special teams coordinator. The Browns ranked sixth in kickoff return average against (21.8), seventh in the NFL in punt return average (9.9), ninth in total kick return yards (8,974) and 10th in total return yards allowed (7,627) during that time. Tabor was Chicago's assistant special teams coach from 2008-2010.

London has spent nine seasons in the NFL — the past four as Houston's running backs coach. He was an offensive assistant with the Bears from 2007-09.

Furrey played eight seasons in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins. With Detroit in 2006, he ranked second in the league with 98 receptions while recording 1,086 yards and six touchdowns.

Furrey spent the past two years coaching at Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C.

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2017: Stefon Diggs scores a 61-yard touchdown in the final seconds in the Minnesota Vikings' 29-24 win over the New Orleans Saints. The Saints had taken a 24-23 lead with 25 seconds remaining only to see the Vikings win with a miracle play. Brad Rempel, USA TODAY Sports

2015: Larry Fitzgerald's game-winning touchdown in overtime capped a wild finish in a 26-20 win for the Cardinals over the Packers. The Packers forced overtime when Aaron Rodgers completed a fourth-and-20 pass for 60 yards to Jeff Janis, and then a 41-yard Hail Mary to Janis with five seconds remaining for the tying touchdown. Michael Chow, azcentral sports

2014: It turned out to be the catch that wasn't. Late in the fourth quarter with the Cowboys trailing the Packers 26-21, Dez Bryant made what appeared to be a spectacular leaping catch at the goal line -- at least it was ruled that way initially. But the referees reviewed it and overturned their call. Green Bay got possession back and hung on to win. Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports

2011: One of the greatest plays in 49ers history easily was the biggest play in the careers of Alex Smith and Vernon Davis. With 9 seconds remaining, Smith hit Davis for a game-winning 14-yard touchdown to give San Francisco a 36-32 win over the Saints in a wild and classic NFC divisional game. Paul Sakuma, AP

2010: The Seahawks' Cinderella playoff run of 2010 came to an abrupt halt in Chicago, where the modern-day Monsters of the Midway and the elements helped end Seattle's season. Before the Seahawks could dent the scoreboard, the Bears built a 28-0 lead and ended the competitive phase of the game. The Bears lost the following week to the rival Packers in the NFC Championship Game. Jerry Lai, US PRESSWIRE

2007: Brett Favre's final playoff victory as a Packer came with the picturesque backdrop of a snowstorm at Lambeau Field. Favre threw three touchdown passes in a rout of the Seahawks. A week later, the Packers were defeated by the Giants in the NFC Championship in overtime after the quarterback threw a costly interception. Mike Roemer, AP

2005: One of the most memorable moments from the 2005 AFC divisional game between the Steelers and Colts came after Jerome Bettis fumbled at the goal line while trying to score an insurance touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Nick Harper scooped it up and was on his way for a leading touchdown return until Ben Roethlisberger made a game-saving tackle. From there, Indianapolis set up Mike Vanderjagt, who had never missed at home in the playoffs, for a tying 46-yard field goal, but he missed to give Pittsburgh a 21-18 win. Darron Cummings, AP

2003: The play that saved the Eagles during a playoff game against the Packers was an improbable fourth-and-26 conversion, when Donovan McNabb connected with Freddie Mitchell in the final minutes. Philadelphia went on to tie the game and eventually defeat the Packers 20-17 in overtime. Miles Kennedy, AP

2001: With a massive snowfall as a backdrop, the divisional playoff showdown between the Raiders and the upstart Patriots turned out to be one of the most memorable and controversial playoff games in NFL history. That was when fans learned the term "Tuck Rule," a moment that set up a tying field goal by Adam Vinatieri, who would also kick the game-winning field goal. ELISE AMENDOLA, Associated Press

1996: In just their second year of existence, the Jaguars stunned the top-seeded Broncos with a 30-27 win in Denver. Nobody saw it coming. That year, two second-year expansion teams reached their respective conference championship games as the Carolina Panthers reached the NFC title game. David Zalubowski, AP

1996: Unseasonably warm weather and rain left the Packers and 49ers playing on a muddy (rather than frozen) field at Lambeau. Edgar Bennett scored two touchdowns as the Packers -- who went on to win Super Bowl XXXI -- ousted the 49ers from the playoffs for the second consecutive season. MARK DUNCAN, Associated Press

1988: By the second quarter of the NFC divisional playoff game between the Eagles and Bears, a heavy, dense fog had rolled over Soldier Field. Visibility was cut to about 15 to 20 yards the rest of the game, which the Bears won 20-12. AP

1986: A play that still lives in Jets infamy. The Jets led by 10 late in the fourth quarter, and the Browns faced third-and-25, when Bernie Kosar's pass fell incomplete. One problem: Mark Gastineau speared Kosar on the play, giving Cleveland new life. The Browns went on to tie the game, then beat the Jets 23-20 in overtime. Manny Rubio, USA TODAY Sports

1981: The "Epic in Miami" playoff game between the Chargers and Dolphins was nothing short of exhilarating, with San Diego coughing up an early 24-0 lead, only to eventually come through with a wild 41-38 overtime win. Getty Images

1980: This playoff had a memorable, yet painful, finish for Browns fans. "Red Right 88" ended in disaster for the Browns, who, rather than settle for a field goal, took a shot at the end zone, where Raiders safety Mike Davis picked off Brian Sipe on a pass intended for Ozzie Newsome. The Raiders went on to become the first wild-card team to win the Super Bowl. Associated Press

1977: One of the greatest plays in the history of the Raiders happened during the AFC divisional game against the Baltimore Colts. It's known as "Ghost to the Post", a 42-yard pass from Ken Stabler to Dave Casper that set up a tying field goal. It wasn't until 43 seconds into the second overtime that Casper caught the winning touchdown for a dramatic 37-31 win. AP

1975: The game is the reason the Hail Mary pass became known as the Hail Mary. Roger Staubach heaved a game-winning 50-yard touchdown to Drew Pearson, who caught it between two defenders late in the fourth quarter, to give the Cowboys a 17-14 win. Staubach said after the game: "I closed my eyes and said a Hail Mary." We've all been calling it that ever since. AP

1972: In one of the great games between these two rivals, the 49ers led by 15 points heading into the fourth quarter before Roger Staubach and the Cowboys stormed back to score 17 unanswered to polish a 30-28 comeback win. AP